By Kris Smith
According to a press release issued by the Navarro County District Attorney’s office on Friday, Gary Bell, Jr. and Jonatthan Cornelius were sentenced to 8 years in prison for Deadly Conduct Discharging a Firearm.
This charge stemmed from the October 2025 drive by shooting on East 6th Avenue, in which several shots were fired at the residence. 
Cornelius, 21 and Bell, 20, have an incarceration past, according to the release. Cornelius was incarcerated for burglaries, alongside theft of a firearm. The younger offender was charged in 2025 for assault of a public servant.
District Attorney Will Thompson stated, “Many of our most difficult cases stem from very young people committing serious crimes. A felony conviction makes getting a job more difficult and time in prison exposes them to a lot of negative influences. “
Thompson continued, “As difficult as these decisions are, the safety of the community must be our top priority. There are no good or easy solutions when young people commit violent crimes, but when they have repeatedly demonstrated that they pose a danger to the community, there must be serious consequences.”
“I only pray that other young people will take notice and realize that even at that age they are not immune from serious consequences if they commit serious crimes.”